There Is No Place Like Home

Dec 17, 2016

The holiday season is extremely tough for everyone in rescue.

We look into the soulful, scared, eyes of a homeless dog or cat and realize we can’t save all of them, we won’t find homes for all of them before Christmas and – – even more tragic – the phone calls and owner surrenders will inundate us shortly after the first of the year.

It was brought home to us at PAAS this week.

Someone had to owner/surrender their beloved cat, the cat knows something awful has happened, and while it has a nice place to live, food, water and companionship – – it isn’t home.

Then, there’s the story (in many different versions) of why someone needs to surrender their pets.

No matter how the story starts, the ending is always the same – they can’t/won’t keep the pets and they want to give them to a rescue.

Like all the rescues, we’ll say “yes” to as many as possible, but we also know we won’t be able to say that magical word to everyone.

Certainly pit bulls bear the brunt of this awful decision and we can’t find a viable solution.

Each time I see someone advertising beautiful pit bull puppies for sale, free, trade – my heart sinks. We know too many of them will not find a forever home.

So, this Christmas, hug your family and your pets.

Enjoy the holidays.

Please, please, please do not give anyone a pet for Christmas unless they’ve specifically asked for one and you are willing to ensure the animal has a home – no matter what.

There’s truly no place like home and that’s the wish we have for all the homeless, unwanted, lovable, sad, funny, big, little dogs and cats in our shelters – – – that they find a new home.

To date, since we opened, in April last year, we’ve touched the lives of 2,050+ dogs and cats – – it feels good – – but our work isn’t done.